Reviews by nickd717:

This is a rather prominent spot on the main strip of Chapel Hill, a ways down from the main bar area towards Carrboro. It's got a pretty nice feel inside, with a spacious bar/restaurant area and visible (and audible even) fermenters behind the bar. It was a very relaxing spot to spend the afternoon of Presidents' Day, and there are a couple tables outside. It seems like a good place to watch a game, with multiple TVs, but as a Duke fan, I'd like to be somewhere other than Chapel Hill if we're talking college sports.

The quality of the beer here is only average. Don't expect anything that will blow you away, and don't come here if you are looking to sample the best brews of the area. I found some of their beers to have somewhat of a cardboard note to them, and while some of them were above average, none of them were great. I was able to get 7 ticks in here, so you're not going to be stuck with just a few options.

The food here is pretty average, not that I had a lot of it. Prices are very reasonable and service is great based on my experience.

Overall, a nice place. Maybe not a beer geek's paradise, but hey, everyone likes to get a few ticks in, right?

A college town is a great place for a brew pub and, as expected, the vibe here is upbeat and fun. You see both students, beer geeks, and families with children for dinner. There are two levels for dining, with lots of television screens, which might actually detract a little from the atmosphere, particularly when the news is being broadcast. The staff is friendly and attentive. I thought the food was quite good - in fact, better than I expected. It is basically upscale pub cuisine but it's fresh, well-prepared, and tasty. Being a brewery, the main attraction is the beer. It's always fun sampling beers where they are brewed and you can order either flights or full pours. The beers are okay; not world class (and I wouldn't go out of the way to purchase them in bottles or cans) but good enough for a pleasant experience of eating and drinking. I'd certainly pay a return visit to Carolina Brewery.

There are currently two locations for Carolina Brewery, the original in Chapel Hill and a new building in nearby Pittsboro. Both are for the most part identical apart although I personally feel the vibe of the Pittsboro location is a little better as the brewery is less crowded than its original location on Franklin Street which is heavily frequented by students from UNC. The quality of the beer and food is pretty great, but personally I am not a huge fan of their beer selection. Personally I feel like it is one of the better bars in Chapel Hill since even though college students make up the main crowd you don't get the same college bar feel like you do at He's Not Here. When I do visit Carolina Brewery, I tend to stick to their Sky Blue or Copperline which are both average beers but nothing particularly impressive. Honestly, I go here more for food than anything, pairing their beer with their nachos and quesadillas is so much better than drinking it alone. Even if you are prefer meat, I highly the black bean option which is cheaper and still tastes incredible with their beer!

The first time I sat down in Carolina Brewery in downtown Chapel Hill, I wasn’t expecting much. The only offering I’d had of their wares was the blonde, which is basically a Bud—tough to judge a brewery’s worth from that American staple. I shared a couple of samplers and went home, not blown away, but certainly not disappointed either.

Fast forward a couple of years and I’m not living in Chapel Hill and Carolina Brewery is the closest brewpub to the place I call home. Needless to say, I’ve been back several times since moving in, and although this isn’t saying much because I keep living in tiny town, it is the best brewpub I’ve ever been able to call a home spot.

First of all, I enjoy the variety they provide. There’s always six staples on tap and at least another six seasonal or small-batch brews available as well. And to make things better, most of those rotating handles are high gravity. Double pilsners, strong Christmas ales, Belgian triples, and even double wheats fill their taps. And they’re all very good, though few come close to what I would consider great.

One of those that does, however, is their Hell’s Bells Dopplebock. It extremely potent and extremely rich and smooth – it is, in short, everything that I want in my favorite style of beer. I came back often while they still had this one on tap.

Next on the list of strengths is the location. It’s right downtown on the better side of Franklin Street, and there’s a ton of space inside. It’s a bit modern for my tastes, with a lot of metal and railings and stairs and what not, but it is clean and not over decorated. Although why they have an upstairs is beyond me – I’ve never even seen the downstairs full. And the television situation could use some improvements; they have plenty, but they don’t have a bunch together in one spot.

As for the food, I’ve only eaten there once. It was their late night menu and limited, but still looked pretty appetizing. The end result didn’t quite live up to the promise of the menu’s description. It certainly wasn’t bad, but it also was not something I would ever crave. If I’m there for some drinks and I’m hungry, I wouldn’t hesitate to order some grub, but the food by itself would not draw me on the premises.

Finally, the service doesn’t suck, but they don’t seem knowledgeable about beer, either. And I’m not just talking about their own beers, I mean beer in general. A lot look like college kids who are still hammering home the Beast on the weekends.